Panel 5: Health

Ballroom

The Mississippi Delta is widely known for suffering from persistent problems related to poor health outcomes, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and infant mortality. However, these challenges have given rise to innovative approaches to improve health care and population health using community-based models. These include the once famous black-led Taborian Hospital, the Delta Health Center - the nation's first rural federal community health center, and wrap around services, such as those provided through Aaron E. Henry's Community Health Services Center. Additionally, unique partnerships have been developed, such as the Tallahatchie General Hospital Wellness Center which evolved through a community-based participatory research initiative. The panelists for this session have been deeply involved in building, evaluating, and advancing these alternative models, and they will reflect on their organizations, lessons learned, and their thoughts on what the future holds.